Thompson wins, Leman third at home ski cross World Cup

Marielle Thompson at the women’s World Cup ski cross in Kananaskis, Alberta.

Marielle Thompson won, while Brady Leman raced to bronze in front of a home crowd at the ski cross World Cup at the Nakiska resort in Alberta on Saturday.

Olympic gold medallist Thompson defended her 2015 Nakiska World Cup title, after dominating the women’s competition. In the final, Thomspon went head to head with the FIS women’s overall leader from Sweden, Anna Holmlund.

Marielle Thompson, centre, following her first place finish at the women’s World Cup ski cross event at Nakiska Ski resort in Kananaskis, Alta., Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016.

Thompson established an early lead over the field, however as they approached the final stretch Holmlund closed in on the Canadian. Despite Holmlund’s strong finish, she placed second behind Thompson who added a third World Cup title to her season after winning in Austria and Italy.

Brady Leman leads during the men’s final at the World Cup ski cross event at Nakiska Ski resort in Kananaskis, Alta., Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016.

Leading an extremely close field throughout most of the race, Leman had a chance at the gold, however an intense photo finish saw France’s Jean Frederic Chapuis take first place, Swizerland’s Armin Niederer second while the Canadian leaned in for third.